Review of bus services to support 'improvement of Bee Network'

Starting in Bolton and Wigan, the first boroughs to get Bee Network bus services, Network Reviews will see Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) working with local authority partners to gather the thoughts of local communities, elected members and businesses. 

Elected representatives sitting on local transport committees and forums will influence any changes made, with priority given to ideas that deliver the biggest benefits, while taking funding and resources into account. 

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A 24 hour bus trial will include the Leigh V1 service from September (Image: TfGM)

Since buses began to be brought under local control last September, Bee Network franchising has already ushered in later buses on some routes, better joining them up with the last trains and trams of the day.

Extra buses have also been rolled out in the first franchised areas, helping to improve punctuality and reliability on services, as well as providing extra capacity. 

A 24-hour transport pilot will also be getting under way from September, with buses on the V1 service from Manchester to Leigh set to run every hour of the day.

Strategic Network Reviews are among a range of options for making changes to public transport services, and will deal with more substantial, in-depth changes with a view to improving the Bee Network over the longer term.

Under current legislation, these will likely take between 12 and 18 months and could require consultation, although some changes can be implemented relatively quickly, such as minor route or fleet changes, and performance issues around punctuality and reliability. 

Further changes that ‘grow’ the existing Bee Network – such as additional frequencies, trips, capacity or minor route changes – fall under a fast-track process, meaning they can be put in place within around six months.
 
All areas of Greater Manchester will be reviewed within three years, with the order mirroring the roll-out of bus franchising, while a programme of thematic reviews, such as opportunities for night buses, orbital services, or priority routes will get under way from January 2025, when all of Greater Manchester’s buses will be under local control. 

Night buses will run every hour throughout the pilot (Image: TfGM)
Councillor Paul Prescott, cabinet portfolio holder for planning, environmental services and transport at Wigan Council, said: “It has been great to see our local buses here in Wigan Borough come back under local control. 

“With the upcoming trial of the V1 as a 24-hour service creating better links between Leigh and Manchester and the exciting proposition of the Metrolink connecting to our borough, we are already seeing the benefits.

“These reviews will help to ensure that the Bee Network continues to develop and grow, connecting our borough to Greater Manchester and ensuring local residents, businesses and communities across our borough are well-served.”